Hide and Seek is a game in which players try to hide while others try to find them. It's very simple but several changes have been added over time. Regardless of which version you play (and we'll see several), all you need is a couple of friends and the stealth skills of a spy.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Setting Up the Game
Step 1. Select the players
The first thing you need to do to play Hide and Seek is to find the players. At least two players are required to play. Obviously, the more players, the better.
If there are players of different ages, take this into consideration. Younger players can enter multiple hiding places but often the places they choose are not exactly suitable and they are not always too careful
Step 2. Set the rules
If you don't set the rules, there will be some who will sneak into places they shouldn't, they could break valuables, they could break into private property, or someone could get stuck in the washing machine. Also some people may go and hide outside when everyone is inside. Lock some rooms such as the parents' room or a room containing valuables. Alternatively, you could allow others to hide in these forbidden rooms but specify for example that they must not mess up anything and that they must put everything back in place.
- Make sure everyone is safe. You certainly don't want your friends to fall out of a tree or climb onto the roof. Make it a rule that you can only hide in places where at least two people can stay or in any case a place that everyone would be able to access.
- We will talk about the variations to this game later. For now, set the ground rules, who's hiding, who's looking for, where to hide, how long you have to hide, etc.
Step 3. Find a suitable place
An outdoor place is perfect but if it is raining outside, an indoor place will also be fine. It is necessary to define the boundaries within which to hide or you will find players scattered in the most disparate and distant places. It's not called Run a mile and hide!
- If your parents are around, make sure they know what's going on as they may not want you to hide in certain places or find you in the shower when they are about to enter the bathroom.
- Always try to choose different places. If you always choose the same place, eventually others will remember it and those will be the first places they will come looking for you.
Part 2 of 3: Playing the Traditional Version
Step 1. Determine who will be looking for
Determining who will be the person who will look for others can be done in several ways: it can be the smallest person, the person whose birthday is the closest, or you can do the count. Alternatively, draw a number from a hat and whoever has the number 1 will be the "seeker".
If one of the people is greater than all, this person could be the perfect seeker. The younger you are, the more frustrating it can become to look for people who know how to hide well. Older players know how to be more attentive and know how to think outside the box
Step 2. Start playing
Once you have designated who will look for the others, he or she stays in the den, closes his eyes and counts aloud to 10. Or to 20, 50 or 100. Alternatively, he or she could sing a song. Anything that serves to mark the time and allow everyone to hide will be fine! Make sure you make it clear so everyone will know how much time they have!
Make sure they're not cheating! The person seeking should have their eyes closed, hands over their eyes and preferably should be facing the wall. Do not peek
Step 3. Go hide
All those who do not have to search should start running and silently go into hiding. The person who will then look for does not have to peek at others while they are hiding. Make sure you are silent when you hide or the “seeker” may use his hearing to understand where your noises are coming from and to understand the direction in which you have gone.
Once you have chosen your hiding place, remain still in silence. You will not want to give yourself to the seeker right now that you are in hiding! If you make noise, even the most hidden place of all will not be enough to hide you
Step 4. Start the hunt
After the seeker has finished counting, he or she will shout out a phrase like "Ready or not, I'm coming for you!". At this point, the seeker must try to find all the players who have hidden. Seeker, be sure to keep your eyes open and sharpen your hearing! When you find someone, be sure to catch them.
- Players who are hiding can move around and change hiding places if they want. It is a good idea to change places and choose one that the seeker has already been to. It's called strategy.
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If some of the hiding players do not return after a certain amount of time or cannot be found, the seeker should give up and declare that the round is over, shouting "Everyone out!" By doing so, all remaining players should come out.
There are also other variations of the phrase "Free all", but they are all very similar
Step 5. Change the role of the “seeker”
The player who is found first will be the seeker in the next round. You could play by switching rounds as soon as one person is found or starting a new round when all players have been found.
You could also set time limits. If the seeker does not meet the time limits, change the finder anyway. Give everyone a chance to hide
Part 3 of 3: Playing Different Variants
Step 1. Play with a den
This variant adds an extra challenge. There are those who hide and there are those who seek, but those who hide must not only hide but must return to the base. Without being caught! So, while the seeker is on the hunt, they have to get out of their hiding place and take risks. It's a bit like a more intense version of the classic hide and seek.
Whoever is hiding has no idea what is going on in the game. Another element of this version may be that everyone hiding must return to the lair before everyone else has been found. Otherwise, I'm out
Step 2. Play with multiple finders
Instead of letting those found first go around doing nothing until the next turn, have them become additional seekers once they are found. Suddenly there will be four seekers hunting for one person: where could they be?
- However, start with only one seeker by starting the game as you always would and slowly you will begin to form your team of extra seekers. Alternatively, you can start from the beginning with more than one seeker.
- The first person found will still be the seeker on the next round but they can already start warming up for the next round, speeding up the rest of the game.
Step 3. Play evasion
This version makes the game even more fun. As players are found, they go to "jail". This can be a particular room or a specially chosen area. The seeker's goal is to put everyone in prison. However, those who are not in prison can be released! All they have to do is enter the prison without being seen! The pressure rises!
After a player is released, they can hide again or rest easy enjoying their freedom. If someone frees a couple of people but others are still in hiding, the same rules apply. Of course, you can add as many shades as you want
Step 4. Play sardines
Technically it is Hide and Seek but on the contrary! There is only one person hiding while everyone else tries to find him. When they find her, they hide with him / her in the same place! So when the last one finds them, what she will find will be a bunch of people crammed into a can of sardines!
Even better, play in the dark! It's even more fun that way! When you find someone ask him "Are you the sardine?" If they answer yes, join them
Step 5. Play manhunt
It's like escapism but in teams. There are two teams (preferably four or more) and each is assigned a lair. Teams hide around the enemy team's base and must try to return to their own. When all team members reach the base without being captured, they win.
This variant of the classic game is best played in very very large areas such as a park. And if it's sunset, it's even better! Just make sure no one gets lost and everyone can communicate. Everyone needs to know when the game is over
Advice
- Hide in a place where your shadow will not be visible. Or at least, a place where no human-shaped shadow is visible.
- There are several strategies for hiding. The first of these is to hide in a simple place. For example, if there is a table in the house, hide under it - you would not expect to find a person hiding there and it will be easy to run back to the den.
- If you have small children, you can play hide and seek with them around the house. When you hide and others find you, they will laugh out loud.
- Try different places to hide but make it all too difficult. Toddlers might get annoyed when they can't find you.
- Hide in a place where it seems impossible to hide, such as the cabinet under the sink in the kitchen. Just make sure you choose a place that you can get out of easily and where you don't have to move too many things.
- If you are short and thin, a cupboard is the perfect place to hide.
Warnings
- Don't hide in places like the freezer or washing machine. In these places, oxygen is limited and the doors may close behind you, preventing you from getting out and air from passing.
- Do not hide in a forbidden area at the entrance or you will get in trouble.
